Trucking companies may hold responsibility for crashes caused by speeding employees. Generally, trucking companies are legally liable for collisions caused by employees who are engaging in work activities. They may also hold responsibility for crashes caused by dangerous hiring practices.
A Charlotte speeding truck accident lawyer can give you more information about liability for accidents caused by speeding truckers. A lawyer can also walk you through the legal process and help you secure compensation for your losses after one of these collisions.
Are Trucking Companies Responsible for Speeding Drivers?
In some cases, trucking companies will hold legal responsibility for collisions caused by drivers who engage in speeding. These companies have a legal responsibility for the actions of their employees, so they may hold liability for collisions caused during the course of an employee’s job duties.
They may also hold responsibility if they hire a trucker with a record as a dangerous or aggressive driver who ends up speeding and causing another collision. In this situation, the company could hold responsibility for the crash because it used dangerous hiring practices.
A Charlotte truck accident lawyer will need to review the specific circumstances surrounding a speeding truck accident to determine if the company needs to cover the losses of any potential injury victims.
Are Truckers Responsible for Speeding Accidents?
In some cases, truckers hold responsibility for any accidents caused by speeding or racing. Truckers who own and operate their own commercial vehicles may hold complete liability for these accidents, because they may not qualify as “employees” of a trucking company.
Due to the complicated nature of liability surrounding truck accident claims, it’s important that you turn to a lawyer for help determining who needs to cover your losses. An attorney will need to investigate all aspects of the collision in order to identify liable parties.
How Do Lawyers Investigate Speeding Truck Accidents?
Attorneys can use several strategies to gather evidence about the causes of a trucking collision. In some cases, attorneys will need to:
- Get a copy of the police accident report
- Request information from the black box data recorder on the truck
- Review the trucker’s driving and hiring records
- Talk to witnesses and get their official statements
Going over this information allows a lawyer to identify any potentially liable parties after a crash. A lawyer can also give you more information if you’re wondering if trucking companies are held responsible for speeding drivers.
North Carolina’s Contributory Negligence Laws and Speeding Accidents
North Carolina’s laws on contributory negligence state that injury victims cannot get any compensation for their losses if they hold even 1% of the fault for a collision. Therefore, trucking companies often try to find ways to blame injury victims for contributing to these crashes.
For example, a trucking company could argue that another driver contributed to the crash by failing to use a turn signal when changing lanes in front of a speeding truck. An attorney can counter these claims, protecting your right to get fair compensation after a collision.
Funds Available After a Speeding Truck Crash
If an attorney can show that someone else caused your trucking accident, you may qualify for funds to pay for all of your economic and non-economic losses. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for funds to pay for your:
- Medical bills
- Vehicle repairs
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
An attorney can keep a record of all of these losses, working tirelessly to ensure that you receive full compensation from the liable party, potentially including the trucking company.
You Have Limited Time to Seek Compensation After a Speeding Accident
You need to move quickly in order to file your speeding truck accident claim before North Carolina’s personal injury statute of limitations expires. Typically, our state will give injury victims three years from the date of an accident to take legal action against the liable party.
However, this deadline may vary based on the specifics of your claim. Therefore, you should always speak to a lawyer to determine how long you have to seek payment for your losses.
Talk to Us After a Crash Caused by a Speeding Trucker
So, are trucking companies held responsible for speeding drivers and the accidents they cause? In some cases, yes, a trucking company will have to cover the losses of injury victims after collisions caused by speeding trucks.
Trucking companies may have to cover these accidents if they involve an employee or occur due to dangerous hiring practices. In other situations, a trucker or another involved party could hold responsibility for the collision.
You can learn more about these accidents and liability from our team at DeMayo Law Offices. We’re proud to serve as Your North Carolina Law Firm™, and we have over 250 years of combined experience that allows us to confidently take on trucking companies on behalf of injury victims.
